Instructive toy



c. J. HECHT 2,078,709

INSTRUGTIVE TOY April 27, 1937.

. Filed Feb. 10, 1936 s SheetsSheet 1 INVENT OR; CZz'izton cZJfec/z 6,

ATTORNEY.

April 9 c. J. HECHT 2,078,709

INSTRUCTIVE TOY Filed Feb. 10, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

April 27, 1937.

J. HECHT 2,078,709

INSTRUCTIVE TOY Filed Feb. 10, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 jig .10.

INVENTOR; CZz'nton Jfieciz z,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES raranr orriee Application February 10, 1936, Serial No. 63,202

6 Claims.

In this specification, and the accompanying drawings, I shall describe and show preferred. embodiments of my invention, and specifically mention certain of the more important objects. I do not limit myself to the exact forms disclosed however, since various changes and adaptations may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

My invention relates to toys that are adapted to afiord instruction, and among its more important objects are; first, to provide a set of toy blocks of novel form and functional capacity, which may be used for amusement purposes as a game; second, to furnish blocks of this kind that also supply means for exercising ingenuity in a marked degree, in order to make a large and indefinite number of possible arrangements thereof; third, to afford facilities for interesting- 20 1y imparting a knowledge of certain principles of mechanics, and particularly methods for resisting gravitational moments by means of other force moments; and, fourth, to accomplish the stated objects in a simple and relatively inexpen- Q sive manner.

My invention comprises a considerable but indefinite number of elements, which may be of several general types. All elements of each particular kind are identical, and all kinds of elements of each set of the blocks have many features in common. Everyelement, of whatever kind, is adapted to cooperate with any other element of its set, or an indefinite number of such other elements, in many different ways.

In the form of my invention selected for illustrative purposes, each of the four kinds of elements shown are roughly in the shape of a human figure, to provide interest. These elements may be assembled to represent many difierent selfsupporting acrobatic groups, arranged in vertical planes.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a typical element having spread legs;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of an element that is identical with that of Fig. l with respect to the arms and upper portions, but having the legs close together, and the foot portions diiferently shaped;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of an element that is closely similar to that of Fig. 1, but having narrower shoulders for the purpose of making the angle of divergence of the arms the same as the angle of divergence of the legs;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a unit that is identical with that of Fig. 3 with respect to the arms and upper portions, but having the legs close together, and the foot portions differently shaped;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the element shown in Fig. l;

Figure 6 is a front elevation representing an acrobatic group, in which elements of all four of the illustrated kinds are employed cooperatively;

Figure '7 is a similar elevation of another arrangement of elements, of two of the illustrated kinds;

Figure 8 is a front elevation of a portion of a group in which elements of a single kind are ar- "I ranged in still another manner;

Figure 9 is a front elevation illustrating a special manner of combining two elements in stable equilibrium; and

Figure 10 is a front elevation of a group comprising elements in seemingly impossible positions; the group being in stable equilibrium, however, and supported entirely by a single element at the bottom.

The elements of Figs. 6-10 inclusive are drawn to a reduced scale in comparison to Figs. l-5 inclusive; and they are shown in outline only, for the purpose of simplicity. Similar reference numerals refer to similar things throughout the several views.

The elements shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, are designated generally by the reference numerals ll, [2, l3 and I4 respectively. The lower portions of elements II and it are identical in dimensions with the lower portions of elements 13 and M respectively. The shoulders I5 and it, of elements H and I2, are of equal width, and are wider than the shoulders ll and E3, of elements l3 and M. The latter are of the same width with respect to each other. The angle of divergence of the arms IQ of elements H and i2, is less than that of legs 2|. In elements i3 and It, the angle of divergence of arms 22 is the same as the angle of divergence of legs 23, and this angle is the same as the divergence of legs 2! of element II.

Elements H and [3 have V-notches 24 and 25 at the respective lower extremities of the legs, on the inside. Elements l2 and I 4 have similar notches 26 and 21 at the respective lower extremities of the legs, on the outside. The dimensions and configuration of the lower extremities of all of the elements are made such that the lower extremities of elements I2 and 14 may be made to engage the lower extremities of elements I l and I 3, by turning one of the engaging pair of elements upside down, as shown in Fig. 7 at 28.

In each kind of element illustrated, the vertical distance from the shoulders to the lower extremities of the arms, is made the same as the distance from said extremities to the bottoms of the feet. The spread of the feet of elements II and I3 is made the same as the width of shoulders of elements El and I2. The divergence of arms I9 is made such that a line 29, drawn between a shoulder corner and the corresponding outer corner of the foot portion, bisects the lower extremity of the arm.

Head and neck portions 3| extend perpendicu larly upward from the center of the shoulders,

and the heads are surmounted by pointed helmets 32. Each shoulder of the elements has a transverse rectangular notch 33 thereacross, at a distance from the neck portion that is approximately equal to half the width of the neck. Notches 33 are adapted for engagement by the apexes of helments 32, and by many other corners of the elements. Thus they are of assistance in properly and accurately positioning the elements in groups; and for maintaining stable equilibrium of the groups and the elements therein.

The elements are made of uniform substantial thickness, as indicated in Fig. 5; so that they may be stood upright, and have sufficient base area to support a considerable superposed structure, of kinds similar to those of Figs. 6 to 10 inelusive.

It will be noted that certain elements of the illustrated groups would not be in stable equilibrium were it not for the force moments that are developed. Thus in Fig. 10 the elements 34 and 35 could not remain in the position shown, except for the force moments exerted thereon at 36 and 37; and elements 38 and 39 require force moments to be exerted thereon at 4! and 42, to lend stability.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 9 requires the cooperation of notches 33 for permanent stability. Element 43 of this figure cannot swing to the right, since it is prevented from doing this by the engagement of helmet peak 44 with notch 33.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that my invention provides means for studying force moments in an interesting and instructive manner. It will also be seen that the invention affords great opportunity for ingenuity in arranging the elements in new ways, to constitute self-supporting groups. Furthermore, it will be observed that the invention may be utilized as a game, in various ways, such as by trying to build up the greatest number of self-supporting group arrangements with a definite number of elements; the elements being either all of one kind, or of several kinds in varying proportions.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A toy comprising a plurality of identically shaped block of substantial thickness representing a human form, adapted for being assembled edgewise upon each other in a vertical plane, to form various groups in stable equilibrium; said blocks having head and neck portions extending perpendicularly from the shoulder portions, and notches extending transversely across the shoulder portions at a distance from the neck approximately equal to half the width of the neck; the blocks having central pointed head extremities, and other sharp transversely extending corners adapted to selectively engage said notches to resist tension in the cornered members; and the blocks being adapted for mutual peripheral engagement to cooperatively maintain group equilibrium while in positions suggesting instability, through opposing gravitational moments by nonvertical force moments.

2. A toy comprising a plurality of types of blocks of substantial thickness, adapted for being assembled edgewise uponeach other in a vertical plane, to form various groups in stable equilibrium; said blocks representing a human form having, neck portions extending perpendicularly from the shoulder portions, heads with central pointed extremities representing peaked helmets, and diverging arm portions extending downwardly from the shoulders; the blocks being provided with notches extending transversely across the shoulder portions at a distance from the neck approximately equal to half the width of the neck, and having a plurality of sharp transversely extending corners adapted to selectively engage said notches to resist tension in the cornered members; the blocks being adapted for mutual peripheral engagement to cooperatively maintain group equilibrium while in positions suggesting instability, through opposing gravita tional moments by non-vertical force moments; the blocks of one type having diverging legs allowing the head and neck portions of an imme diately underlying block to enter therebetween, and the blocks of another type having their legs close together and parallel.

3. The toy defined by claim 2 wherein the blocks with diverging legs have notches at the inside of the lower extremities of the legs; and the blocks with closed legs have notches at the outside of the lower extremities of the legs; said two types of blocks being adapted to engage each other by means of said notches at the leg extremities.

4. The toy defined by claim 2 wherein the distance between the shoulders and the lower extremities of the arms, is the same as the distance between said extremities and the lower extremities of the legs.

5. The toy defined by claim 2 wherein blocks having diverging legs are so proportioned that a line drawn from the point of either shoulder to the point of the toe on that side, will bisect the lower extremity of the arm.

6. The toyv defined by claim 2 wherein each shoulder notch lies substantially in the plane of the edge of the sloping portion of the peaked helmet.

CLINTON J. HECHT.- 

